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Joe Uvegas to perform Saturday at Bell Tower Cultural Center

Joe Uvegas will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Bell Tower Cultural Center at 201 E. Second St. in Florence.

Florence — He is good at entertaining the crowd.

Singer/songwriter Joe Uvegas will perform folk/country music in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Bell Tower Cultural Center at 201 E. Second St. in Florence.

"(He is good at) singing, playing, telling stories and making the crowd feel alive with emotion and delighted with humor," according to a press release. "Not many performers capture it all, but this guy does every time."

Uvegas describes himself as "the most functional musician I know (with) a remarkable record of fatherhood integrity (and) marital integrity. If I ever get to do this again, I will probably become the gypsy that I am inside."

His interest in the field began when he played classic piano. On the side, he wrote songs as a young teenager. His instructor told him it would break her heart if he didn't go into music in college. Instead, he studied history then applied to a law school. When he was accepted, he decided not to pursue law.

Uvegas then studied to become a priest for a couple years, but when that didn't work, he started traveling and ended up in Colorado Springs at the age of 27.

"I had performed some, but I had never really done a (concert)," he said.

He performed with another musician for a short time and recorded his first CD in 1995. But then, he didn't do anything with his music for about five years.

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Then he said he went out on his own and it took off.

"I've been performing professionally for about 25 years now," Uvegas said. "I have nine albums out. Two of them have won the Best of Awards from Colorado Springs Gazette for 'Promise of Portage,' 'One Down, One Across.' For two years, I've won Best Performer in Colorado Springs."

Two years ago, he released "When the Smoke Clears" with singer/songwriter Stephanie Pauline, which brings "a level of intimacy in their lyrics, a honest, confessional quality, that bring these narratives back to reality," said a press release.

With the proceeds from the concert, the Florence Arts Council will continue its efforts to restore the 1898 building. The building is used as a gallery and performance hall, with artist studios, offices and classroom space.

Tickets, which are $10 for non-members and $8 for members, are available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Florence Arts Council office at 201 East Second St., or the Fox Den from 10 am. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at 123 W. Main in Florence. Tickets also will be available at the door, but seating is limited and interested concert-goers are encouraged to purchase in advance. For more information, call 671-3581.

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